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Fremd's a force against Lake Zurich

With 3:08 to play in the second quarter, Fremd's girls basketball team was holding an 11-10 lead over a stubborn Lake Zurich squad.

But for the next 21 minutes, the Vikings were holding the Bears at bay.

During the span, Fremd closed the game on a 43-14 tear to record a 54-24 triumph and take third place in the Lake Zurich Turkey Thriller with a 4-1 record.

"We got a little nervous but we knew we could play better than we did in the first half," said Fremd senior guard Hayley Williams, who had a pair of 3-pointers in the first a half including one at the second-quarter buzzer to send Fremd into intermission holding a 23-12 lead.

Williams' sister Midori also hit a 3-pointer in the final minute of the half to help ignite the Vikings' 12-2 run to close out the second quarter.

"Those last couple of baskets at the end of the first half were daggers," said Lake Zurich coach Chris Bennett, whose team is 2-3. "Any time we had some positive momentum, we'd shoot ourselves in the foot. And they took advantage. That's what (Fremd coach) Dave Yates' teams do."

Senior Grace Tworek (10 rebounds) took advantage of her inside and outside skills, scoring 14 points with a 3-pointer from the top of the key in the final period and her usual quick spin moves to the basket for four 2-point field goals.

Midori Williams also scored 14 points, getting 7 in the second quarter.

"Our coach (Yates) made us realize we could do better in the second half," said Midori, who also had 4 steals. "Our defense created offense and that gave us the momentum to pull away."

After Fremd freshman Emily Klaczek scored on layup to start the fourth quarter, senior teammate Missy Adrian (3 steals) recorded d consecutive steals and layups for a commanding 41-16 lead.

"We're really excited for what can happen with this team," Midori Williams added. "We can be a really good team."

The Vikes were quite the team the past two years, finishing second in the Class 4A each time to Benet.

"Unfortunately, we were our own worst enemy on offense in the first half," Yates said. "Uncharacteristically, we were not valuing the ball.

"But what was nice is the way we responded and came out and played different in the second half. Hopefully that is a good sign, the way we can circle the wagons and change the way we are playing."

Bennett didn't like the change he saw from the previous night, when his team lost 47-35 to Rolling Meadows.

"In that game, we looked like a young team that was making strides," he said. "This game, we looked like a young team."

Bears junior McKenna Zobel was selected all-tournament second team while freshman Ella Gilbertson was honorable mention.

Madison Hart, Grace Kinsey and Lauryn Johnson and Morgan Long each had a pair of buckets for the bears while Gilbertson, Anna Biergans, Maddy Piggot and Jacklyn Schlender each had one.

Tworek was named all-tournament to the first team while Midori Williams was second team.

Fremd's Alyssa Honickel came off the bench to score 5 points (one 3-pointer) in the fourth quarter while freshman Danielle Lovelace also had a basket and a free throw in the second half.

  Lake Zurich's McKenna Zobel, left, drives on Fremd's Grace Tworek on Wednesday night at Lake Zurich. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Anna Biergans, right, tries to get around Fremd's Midori Williams on Wednesday night at Lake Zurich. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Missy Adrian, left, and Lake Zurich's Grace Kinsey battle for a rebound Wednesday night at Lake Zurich. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Grace Kinsey, left, and Fremd's Angie Zara battle for a loose ball Wednesday night at Lake Zurich. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Fremd's Missy Adrian, right, drives on Lake Zurich's Lauryn Johnson on Wednesday night at Lake Zurich. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Lake Zurich's Sarah Blasé (3) passes around Fremd's Emily Klaczek on Wednesday night at Lake Zurich. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
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